Bowler&#39;s hand towel



June 26, 1962 R. B. BELLENI BOWLERS HAND TOWEL Filed March 22, 1960 /7 INVENTOR. 1PM/Mavo ,BELLE/w -Wf/MM/fm rroeA/Eys.

United States Patent O 3,040,357 BOWLERS HAND TOWEL Raymond B. Belleni, 1240 W. th St., Los Angeles 17, Calif. Filed Mar. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 16,819 5 Claims. (Cl. 15-209) This invention relates to a towel structure especially adapated to be used by bowlers.

The handling of bowling balls in the process of playing the game renders it necessary frequently to wipe the hands. It has been customary in the past to provide a common towel for all to use, usually supported on a newel post adjacent the track where the returned balls are accommodated.

It is unnecessary to set forth herein all of the reasons why such unsanitary practices are to be condemned.

In an effort to overcome these objections, some bowlers have utilized individual towels carried in any convenient way, such as by tucking ione or more corners Iof the towel between the belt and the trousers. However, such a solution to the problem is not practical. The towels are apt to drop off; they may flap about in a manner to distract the bowler when he must exercise a skillful coordination of mind and body. At any rate, there is, at the present time, no adequate way to supply this longfelt need.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a compact individual towel that may be carried by the bowler for ready use.

' It is another object of this invention to provide a towel of this `character that can be kept neatly folded when not in use, so that it will lie snugly against the body of the bowler and out of his way when bowling.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent Ifrom a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specication. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best dened by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a towel structure incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View, taken along a plane corresponding to line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 4-4 of FIG. 1 with the hook removed; and

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the towel proper, shown in unfolded position.

The towel structure is constructed of a single sheet of towel material (FIG. 5). This sheet 1 is provided with panels or areas 2, 3, 4, 5 and `6 that are made of toweling material having a short nap. Integrally formed with the panels are strips or borders 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. A lower border portion 13 is also provided.

The border elements 7 to 13 are formed integrally with the toweling panels or areas 2 to `6, and are relatively smooth and thin in comparison with the toweling of the five areas or panels 2 to 6. Thus, these border elements are readily creased.

In this way it is possible readily to fold the panels or areas, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4, at the strips or borders 8 to 11. These strips form a gridlike pattern.

Alternatively, the creases 24 (FIG. 5), shown in phantom lines, may be formed permanently by appropriate -fabrication of the material.

After the toweling member 1 is folded in accordion ICC 2. manner as illustrated in FIG. 4, a `grommet 14 may be\ passed through the apertures 15 formed near the upper edge of each of the panels or areas 2 to 6. This grommet has a central opening 16. v

A decorative design may be carried by the end area 2, such as the representation ofa bowling pin 17. rIlle borders or strips 7, 8 and 13 simulate or represent a bowling alley.

In order to makevit possible to carry the towel on the belt of a wearer, a hook support 18 is provided (FIGS. l and 3).

Thus, the hook member 13 has a tapered point 19 converging toward the rear face of d-omed head 20. This domed head 20 is formed integrally with the hook. An arm 21 extends obliquely toward the right and is integrally formed with the shank 22 and dome 20 of the hook structure. A downwardly extending lhook portion '23 serves for engagement with the belt of the wearer.

By the aid of the intervening strips 8, 9, 10 and 11 forming the grid-like pattern, it is possible to fold the towel structure 1 into a compact form without danger of the towel expanding unduly and forming an untidy appearance when the towel is worn. By the aid of the hook structure 18, the towel can be readily attached to the belt at the rear portion of the belt. .Furthermore, the ldome 2i) may bear the name of the owner or other identification data.

The inventor claims:

l. In a towel structure: a single sheet of absorbent and pliant fabric towel material folded in accordion fashion; and a hollow fastening device passing through all of the folds of the towel material and adjacent an end edge of the yfolded material, to hol-d the folds together, .the other edge of the yfolded material being free.

2. In a towel structure: a single sheet of towel material, there being panels of the material separated by relatively smooth fabric portions, said panels being parallel; said material being folded along said smooth -fabrc portions in accordion fashion; and fastening means for permanently holding the material in folded position, and passing through all of the folds and adjacent an end edge of the material.

3. In a towel structure: a single sheet of absorbent towel material folded in accordion fashion; a hollow fasn tening device passing through all of the folds of the towel material and adjacent an end edge of the folded material, to hold the folds together, the other edge of the folded material being free; and a belt hook engaging the fastening means.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which the fastening means is hollow; and a belt hook engaging the fastening means.

5. In a towel structure: a single sheet of towel material, there being panels of the material separated by relatively smooth parallel portions; the material bounded by said smooth portions having a short nap; said material being `folded along said portions in accordion fashion; and fastening means passing through all of the folds and-adjacent an end edge of the material, to hold the folds together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MacLellan Nov. 29, 1960 

